The Formation of CO by Thermal Decomposition of Formic Acid under Electrochemical Conditions of CO_2 Reduction

We report that the thermal decomposition of formic acid to CO may occur under electrochemically-relevant conditions by mild heating. These thermal effects may play a role in the outcome of electrolytic experiments as an artifact of resistive, local heating and illumination. This non-Faradaic reactivity pathway may therefore need consideration in the analysis of electrochemical data on CO_2 reduction to formic acid and CO and may become a hindrance in scaleup efforts of these chemical transformations. IR visual thermometry provides evidence of macroscopic heating effects during electrolytic experiments.